Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 633,684. Patenied Sept. 26, I899. M. D COMPTON.

ACETYLEHE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Dec. 30, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

? ATTORN EY.

INVENTOR THE Ncnms mans co. PKOTO-UTAO" wuumsrom u. c.

UNrTEn STATES PATENT QEEICE.

MELVIN D. COMP ON, OF NEIVARK, NEIV JERSEY.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 63 3,684, dated September 26, 1899.

Application filed December 30,1398. Serial No. 700,715. .No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELvIN D. COMPTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to acetylene-gas generators of the class in which the carbid-containing receptacle is brought more or less into contact with the water and a wick situated within the water-supply.

It also relates to an improved form of carbid-receptacle and an automatically-adjustable wick for supplying moisture to the carbid-receptacle.

The object of my invention is to supply a cheap and etficient acetylene-gas generator adapted for use on a large scale, to facilitate the removal of exhausted carbid from its receptacle, and to assure the moisture being supplied to the carbid in gradual but always sufficient quantities.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the generator in vertical section; Fig. 2, a view of the top of the carbid-receptacle; Fig. 3, a section of the guiding-slot for the telescoping portion of the generator, and Fig. 4: the form of the base upon which the telescoping part of the generator rests in its lowest position.

In Fig. 1, A is the external containing-wall of the generator; B, the telescoping holder; 0, the perforated or open-work carbid-receptacle, and E and F means for allowing expansion of the carbid in the carbid-receptacle and also for opening and emptying the carbid out of the receptacle. D is an absorbent wick adapted to open outwardly and allow the receptacle 0 to penetrate it. G is a spring for holding the wick in position. This wick is stiffened by an interna'l metal strip or in other suitable manner and has its upper ends bent outwardly, as shown, to allow the receptacle C to enter it. The wick has a joint 1 1 at the bottom, on which it has the necessary play for opening outwardly. I is a drier and strainer placed over the mouth of the gaspipe 1 1, connecting the gas-holder B with the point of consumption or storage. In this pipe 1 are arranged two upwardly-working liquidvalvcs, one of which, n, is a weighted safetyvalve for discharging any excessive pressure in the gas-holder B. J is an ordinary floatvalve for maintaining constant the height of the water in A. K is a valve controlled by the spring 8 for letting the air into the holder B when it is raised out of A by means of the cord 0, pulleys p, and weights for cleaning, renewal, (be. m is a liquid-manometer for showing the pressure in B. i t are catches for holding in place the carbid-receptacle G. The rod Z, pin-joint 5, spring 4, and handle 2 show the means by which 'the catch 25' is slipped out of place in order to allow the carbid-holder E to be removed. 3 3 are pins attached to the sides of the holderB for retainingin place and guiding the gas-holder B in its upward and downward movement. 9 is a Wick passing through the center of the carbid-holder C for bringing the water into contact with the central part of the carbid in the holder. 9 is the pipe for exhausting the water from A.

Fig. 2 shows a top view, in horizontal section, of the carbid-holder. a a is the framework, 10 10 the carbid, and 9 the centrallylocated wick adapted to be brought into contact with the water-supply.

Fig. 3 is a section of the gas-holder guide and shows how the same may be removed from the water-holder A, Fig. 1.

Fig. at shows the ring for holding the gasholder B, Fig. 1, in position and for guiding it in its movements. Z) I) are the solid portions of the ring, and c c the guides.

The operation is as follows: When it is desired to generate the gas, the carbid-receptacle C is lowered until the sides of the receptacle come into contact with the adjustable wick D, and at the same time the central wick 9 supplies water to the interior of the carbid contained in O. The Wick 9 opens in proportion as the receptacle (3 descends and closely embraces the sides of the same, and the capillary action of the wick supplies the water to act on the carbid. The carbid in the lower portion of C will soon become exhausted; but by this time the receptacle is dipping with its lower portion into the water, and gas is evolved in the requisite quantity. Of course if more gas is evolved than is consumed or stored the gas-holder B rises out of the water and the gas generation ceases. As soon as water comes in contact with the car- ICO bid in C the carbidreceptacle O expands, which expansion is compensated by the hook device Egvorking in its slot, and by the spring F. In order to allow the carbid-holder to expand, it is divided longitudinally through the center. At the upper part is the boltE,working in a slot at one end and provided with a hook at the other. At the bottom portion is arranged a spiral spring F. This allows of expansion, and when it is desired to dump out the residue the bolt and spring are disengaged from their catches and the holder opened outwardly. Any gas produced passes through the strainerI, the pipe 1, liquid-valve m, away to the point of consumption or storage. lVhen the carbid is exhausted and it is desired to remove the receptacle 0, it is detached from its supporting catches 15' t by means of the handle 2 and rod Z. The residue can be emptied by detaching the hook E and opening the receptacle. If it is desired to raise off the gas-holder B, the weight W is lifted from its seat, and as it falls it takes up the slack w, raises the valve in K, letting in air and preventing suction, and the pin 3 runs along the slot 6, Fig. 3, until it reaches the bend 7. The stop 8, which is a pivoted lever with a heavy long arm held in place by gravity, is thrown over into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, thereby blocking the slot (3,when the pin 3 passes sidewise into the slot 7 and the holder 0 is removed.

Having fully described and illustrated my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a water-supply, a carbid-receptacle and an automatically-ad j ustable wick, for supplying water to said carbid-receptacle.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a carbid-receptacle capable of opening outward for discharging its contents, and provided with means for holding the parts together and allowing for expansion, substantially as set forth.

3. In an acetylene-generator, the combination of a perforated carbid-holder, a central wick and an automatically-adj ustable external wick, substantially as described.

at. In a gas-generator, the combination of a gasholder, a spring-controlled air-valve normally closed, and means for simultaneously lifting out said gas-holder and operating the air-valve, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 24th day of December, A. D. 1898.

\Vitnesses:

GEORGE E. ROWLEY, W. SEMIEN.

MELVIN D. COMPTON. 

